For two days in october, cameras focused on the work of the MGH Vascular Center and the Knight Center for Interventional Cardiovascular Therapy when physicians, technicians, nurses and staff participated in 11 cases broadcast live to the Vascular Interventional Advances (VIVA) conference in Las Vegas on Oct. 19 and 20.

Kenneth Rosenfield, MD, director of the Cardiac and Vascular Invasive Service, led a multidisciplinary team of physicians who demonstrated complex vascular interventions for more than 2,200 attendees at the conference. Other participating physicians included Christopher Kwolek, MD, Robert Schainfeld, DO, Douglas Drachman, MD, and Joseph Garasic, MD.

"We were able to demonstrate and convey to the audience the high level and quality of care that we are able to offer as a result of the team effort that is always A-plus here at the MGH, starting with the cardiologists working with the surgeons and the supporting staff who are unmatched and unparalleled," said Rosenfield.

The demonstrated interventions included carotid artery and kidney artery stents, lower extremity revascularization and closing an aneurysm behind the knee.

"The cases were broadcast live via satellite from five leading centers across the United State and Germany by experts who demonstrated new techniques and technologies," said Michael R. Jaff, DO, medical director the MGH Vascular Center and faculty member of VIVA. "The format included a faculty panel at the meeting that observed and discussed the nuances of the cases with the physicians in attendance."

This was the third time the MGH had broadcast cases to VIVA since the conference began eight years ago. This year, the MGH team highlighted the ethical responsibilities of performing live case demonstrations, including an MGH-developed code of conduct that was shared with each patient who had agreed to participate.

Preparing for the two days of filming required several months of coordination within the Vascular and Knight centers and included planning with Buildings and Grounds, which helped the satellite broadcasting company connect 1,000 feet of cable through the hospital, and Environmental Services, which accommodated the Knight Center's extended staff members' hours on the days of filming.